All of the photos were taken in May 2023 of Estancia Ranchettes Unit 2-A Block 4 Lots 20 & 21 and the surrounding views.           

To view larger maps/photos just simply click the thumbnail to expand. You can scroll by using the arrow keys on your keyboard as well.

To view the maps/photos in a larger window hover your mouse over the small image, right click and then choose "Open Link".

Make sure to check the map section to see where photos were taken in relation to the property being sold in case the above named property is not the property being sold in this listing.

Prior to visiting the property I suggest you study the maps and the satellite image as they tell the story on how to get there. Get a mental picture of how to get to a property from a main road. I frequently write notes on how I got to the property.

Print out the important maps like the parcel map, aerial photo with the GPS coords and street map. These are the maps I use myself if I was going to view the property. You can enter the latitude and longitude into Google or Bing maps by putting a comma between them.

I also suggest you bring a street dedicated GPS like a Garmin, not your phone. Do not rely on your GPS to take you the correct way as she'll take you down miles of roads that aren't the main drags. I've named mine Thelma and Louise because she's tried to drive me off a cliff a few times! If I could just get Brad Pitt to sit in the back seat! : )

Most of the properties I sell are down some kind of dirt road - my favs! Be smart and bring a shovel, water, food, blankets, mace, a dog and anything else you might need if you get stuck for a day or two. I've been stuck in the sand, a marsh, had tires blow out - you name it. Be prepared, be safe, and have fun. She's a beautiful Earth. We only get one shot here - get out there and see all she has to offer. Char the Explorer : )

Torrance County, population 15,302, sits in the middle of New Mexico and is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical area. Most of the county is primarily gently-rolling grassland ranging from 6000 to 6200 feet in elevation. The Manzano Mountains rising to 10,098 feet on the western edge of the county.

It's one of the most productive agricultural counties in the United States producing pinto beans, corn, hay, cattle, nursery crops and vegetables. It enjoys commercial development brought by Interstate 40 and is one of the fastest growing counties in the state.

It boasts of the longest stretch remaining of Old Route 66 “The Mother Road” in the heart of New Mexico. It has attracted a wide variety of business enterprises to the region. Tagawa Greenhouses in Estancia has 20 acres of growing space. Award-winning Sierra Blanca Brewery came to Estancia Valley in 2007 to meet their growth needs when it was time to expand. Other thriving industries include the El Cabo wind project, Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), Lonesome Wind Renewables, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Holy Energy, and numerous aviation, agriculture, energy, retail and service businesses.

With an elevation of over 6,000 feet it is considered ideal weather by many with only 11.5 inches of precipitation annually. Sunny days abound with mild winter temperatures of 45 degrees to 87 degrees in the summertime.

Moriarty sits at the Junction of I40 and Hwy 41  It’s centrally located 35 E of Albuquerque and 56 miles S of Santa Fe. Edgewood is about 10 minutes west of Moriarty and its population grew 88% from 2000 to 2010 and it opened a Wal-Mart in 2008.

Estancia, the Torrance County seat, is a small rural town of about 1600 people. In addition to the county offices and Sheriff’s Office, it offers a post office, grocery store, Dollar Store, gas stations, restaurants, and the Estancia Schools as well as the necessary fire, police and Emergency Medical Services. It’s surrounded by an agricultural community that has been the foundation of the Town for more than 100 years. Ranching and farming industries remain strong influences to the flavor of life in the Estancia Valley and well as key contributing economic factors in the area.

Cline's Corner is a cute famous stop along Old Route 66 E of Moriarty and I have enjoyed a few lunches at the cafe and they have a great little gift shop. I included a photo of me and my sister standing in front of their totem pole and some real cowboys a few years ago out front! Fun place indeed and it is reflective of the rural cowboy and Indian country this part of New Mexico is!

The Sandia Mountains are to the NW and the Manzano Mountains are to the SW. There are stunning sunsets over the Sandia Mountains, meaning watermelon, which Spanish explorers named because they likened the color the mountainside turns at sunset! Sandia Pueblo Indians called the mountain Bien Mur, "big mountain". W of the Sandia Mountains is Albuquerque and the interstate quickly takes you thru the mountains to the big town!

The Sandia-Manzano Mountains are a substantial mountain area that defines the eastern edge of the middle Rio Grande valley of central New Mexico. Their elevation changes provide recreational opportunities including winter skiing and cool summer hiking. The entire mountain chain comprises two parts, the Sandia Mountains to the north, and the Manzano Mountains to the south, separated by Tijeras Canyon, through which runs Interstate 40, following the path of historic U.S. Route 66.

The area reminds me of the start of the Great Plains. I read that it sits on the very western edge of the Llano Estacado, aka the Staked Plain, one of the largest mesas / tablelands in North America. Once referred to as the Great American Desert, colonial times found people passing by this area seeking better land further west. By the mid-19th century, people had begun settling here as they realized it was well suited for farming as large portions of the region sit atop one of the world's largest underground reservoirs, the Ogallala Aquifer.

The region is a cold semi-arid climate with long hot summers and cold winters and low rainfall. It’s made up of grassland and mesas and lots of playa lakes that seasonally fill up after a thunderstorm, but rains don’t come frequently. These ponds are important habitat for waterfowl and pronghorn and deer are often found around these ponds. A

nd I have sure seen some pretty big herds of antelope here! In March 2015, I spotted two huge herds of antelope in the Estancia Ranchettes. Wow was that ever amazing and stunning to see! The first group was on the far east side by Units 6 & 7. They raced across the prairie putting on quite the show! They stopped to duck under the highest point in the fence line with the big buck standing guard until the last one passed between us! I've seen this several times now in the wild when seeing antelope, deer, elk and horses. AWESOME!

Here's there herd I saw at the bottom of the subdivision in unit 7A. This is one of the largest herds I’ve ever seen in my life and can only think of one larger in Elko, Nevada years ago! I wondered why so many of them had horns and learned that about 40% of the females have horns that don't get any longer than their ears. The buck's horns are up to 15 inches long and have the distinctive prong on the front which gave the species its name. Another difference between males and females is the black patch on the jaw below the eye of the males.

Click here for the Sandia Mountain and Manzano Mountain Wilderness Areas in the Cibola National Forest website. The Mountainair Ranger District in the Cibola National Forest is made up of the Gallinas and Manzano Mountains. The Manzano Mountains are located primarily in Torrance County with a small section on the west side of the mountain located in Valencia County.

The Sandia's offer 37,200 acres and 120 miles of trails but if you prefer solitude they say you should stick to the Manzano's which offers 37,200 acres and 64 miles of trails.

Click Here for Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway.

Click Here for Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood.